UAE Lifts Uganda Visa Ban as Kampala Fights US Travel Warning
The United Arab Emirates restored visa access for Ugandan nationals following an Ebola outbreak, while Uganda seeks to remove a restrictive US travel advisory.
The Government of Uganda is navigating a split international response to its recent Ebola outbreak, securing eased travel restrictions from the United Arab Emirates while facing a continued travel ban from the United States.
On November 11, 2026, the United Arab Emirates lifted a visa suspension for Ugandan nationals that had been in place since June 2026. The decision followed the containment of the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak. Under the new guidelines, Ugandan citizens may enter the UAE if they have spent at least 21 days outside of Uganda. Exemptions and specific health procedures apply to students enrolled before June 2026, their families, diplomatic passport holders, and medical cases. However, the UAE maintains precautionary visa restrictions for nationals of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Simultaneously, Uganda is struggling to downgrade a Level 4 "Do not travel" advisory issued by the United States. Despite the World Health Organization and Africa CDC declaring Uganda Ebola-free on August 27, the US State Department re-published the warning on November 9. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo informed Parliament that previous diplomatic efforts in August failed to result in a downgrade. Ugandan officials argue the classification lacks scientific evidence and causes significant economic damage to the tourism industry.
